Chapter 17 Tissue Culture: Micropropagation 433
Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
Genetic Diversity
As explained earlier, plants reproduced via micropropagation are clones
with the same genetics. This can be of great benefi t when a grower expects
to replicate the exact same traits of the parent plant. However, the lack of
genetic diversity may also be detrimental. Imagine if everyone in your class
had the exact same genetics. Not only would you all look exactly the same, you
would have the same immunities or susceptibilities to diseases and illnesses.
If one person in the class became ill, everyone would likely follow suit. This
is true in the plant world as well. If a viticulturist has a vineyard with only
one variety of vines and one plant suffers because of a fungus, it is likely they
will all be susceptible. For this reason, it is important for growers to maintain
genetic diversity in their crops.
Environmental Requirements
Supplying plant material with the proper environmental conditions
is very important for successful micropropagation. When using
micropropagation techniques, the explant (cells, tissues, or entire plants that
are in an in vitro culture), is removed from the parent plant and placed in an
environment similar to its native habitat. The micropropagated plants require
light, nutrition, hormones, moisture, and the appropriate temperature as
well as a sanitized area in which to grow, Figure 17-5. The items needed to
achieve and maintain an aseptic environment include a laminar fl ow hood,
test tubes or petri dishes, an artifi cial light supply, a growth medium, ethanol
or isopropyl alcohol solution (70%), bleach solution (10%), forceps, scalpel,
plastic tape for sealing test tubes and petri dishes, and hand soap.
Photography by Agri-Starts, Inc.
Figure 17-5. A technician at Agri-Starts inspects plant material that has been cultured via
micropropagation. The growing area is maintained as a sterile environment in which the
temperature and humidity is carefully controlled.
Corner Question
Can plants be bred if
they are incompatible?